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Submitted by Senator Paul Davis -AUGUSTA - Senator Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) has introduced legislation for the Second Regular Session that, if enacted, will give the residents of Atkinson the opportunity to decide the future of their town. What's at stake? Whether or not the community should deorganize and become one of approximately 400 unorganized territories in Maine. With a population of 320 people that is continually shrinking, Atkinson has seen its tax rate skyrocket over the years to pay for town services and educational expenses for SAD 41. In order for a community to have the option of deorganizing as a town, the Legislature must first give its approval for the town to present a referendum question to the citizens of that community. "Every town and its citizens have the right to decide how their community will look in the future. Deorganization may not be the best solution for the problems the town is facing, but it is a decision that should be made by the people who live in that community. I sponsored legislation so Atkinson has the needed vehicle to present this plan to its residents and to let them have the opportunity to choose what they think is best for Atkinson," Senator Davis stated. If the Legislature enacts LD 1909, An Act to Permit the Town of Atkinson to Deorganize, the board of assessors shall submit the following question to the voters of Atkinson by ballot at a special election: "Do you favor the deorganization of the Town of Atkinson?" This Act must be approved by at least 2/3 of the legal voters voting at the special election, and the total number of votes cast for and against the acceptance of this Act at the election must equal or exceed 50% of the total number of votes cast in the town for Governor at the last gubernatorial election in order to become effective. Atkinson is part of a growing trend in Maine is pursuing deorganization as a possible solution to mounting educational and municipal government regulations. The small town of Madrid in Oxford County dis-incorporated in April of 2000, dissolving its local government, citing "apathy" and "too many state laws to enforce" as the reason. A public hearing will be held on LD 1909 before the State and Local Government Committee on January 16th at 9:30 am in room 216 of the Cross State Office Building. Senator Davis and Representative Jim Annis (the bill's cosponsor) encourage anyone interested in this issue to attend the hearing and provide testimony either for or against the legislation. First settled in 1804 by Bylie Lyford, Atkinson was incorporated as Maine's 230th town in 1819. The town was named in honor of Judge Atkinson of New Hampshire, who furnished the town with a library of 100 volumes. |